Lowering my bike...

Okay, so it just occurred to me that with my plans to lower my bike by about 2" I'm going to have to do something about my sidestand. What's the best way to go, shorten it or bend it? Bending's easier for me than cutting and welding, but will it make for a weaker stand? Does a little weakness really matter a whole lot as there's not *that* much weight on the sidestand anyway?

And how is lowering the bike going to affect centre-stand dynamics? I don't have any trouble pulling it up on the centre-stand now, but a 2" difference might require a little more effort on my part. Any input?

 

I just lowered my bike by 2 inches, Putting it on the centerstand is quite the chore now, its all lift now, you don't get anywhere near the leverage pushing down on the stand with your foot as you do with the bike at normal height.

As for the side stand, it will have to be adjusted, I'm just going to bend mine, but a little tip, take the spring off first, if the spring gets hot it gets brittle and will break

 

Maximum, Are you replacing your rear shocks? If thats your plan, what shocks are you going with because I am planning the same.

 

MAX: I picked up some Koni's on eBay a few months ago. They were purchased for a HD but the guy never mounted them. I imagine they'll be a little stiffer than stock but that shouldn't be too bothersome. They also have a little more adjustability than the stockers, preload and damping. I think the only real issue will be fitting some bushings to them that'll work with the mounts on the bike.

Oh... I also picked up (on eBay!) a set of progressive fork springs that'll drop the front by just about 2" too.

Ace: Thanks for the tip! I'll get to bending on the sidestand as soon as I can bear to be in the garage without gloves on. Bbrrrr... At least the torch might help keep me warm.

 

As far as new bushings go, go to the local auto parts store and get a sway bar link kit for a 96 cavalier (under $10). You'll get four urethane bushings which can be trimmed quite easily and pressed into the eye of the shock. A little dab of oil goes a long way at getting the bushing to press in too.

Btw, Max X i got a set of shocks off a sporster, they are a little stiffer, but they only ran me $30

 

When I lowered my Busa, I simply cut 1" out of my stand, and welder the foot back on.

On my Maxim, I have the same issue, but it's not near as drastic as the Busa was. Here is what I plan on doing.....

If you look at the tab that the stand rests against, when the stand is down. Simply grab an angle grinder, and cut some material out of it on a slight angle. This will allow the stand to move further forward, thus raising the bottom of the stand, and allowing for the correct lean again. Just be carefull not to take to much out the first cut, then take more out as required. I know numerous guy's that have done this with Busa's, and have never had an issue.

If your a little leery on doing it. I will be doing mine this weekend, if you preffer to see it done before cutting on your own bike. I'll document it with lots of pics. regardless. This way it will be on file for anyone in the future.

I'll post pics. in this thread, and perhaps start another thread with picturial.

Cheesy!

 

Hey, I'd love to see how it goes!
I have the same issue, sounds like a cool fix, though I haven't sized it up.

 

Thanx Max/Ace
I looked at a few of the Sportster shocks, but do not want to go any stiffer, I'm about 175~180 & going stiffer makes for a bumpy ride to me.

 

I'm about 170lbs and I went to a way stiffer shock and it got slightly stiffer but the handling was well worth it. Also looks better. 04 VTX 1300 shocks-direct bolt on. no mods.

 

I lowered my 750 Seca by first replacing the rear wheel with one off of a 65 Maxim (18" down to 16") Then I cut 1" off of the rear shock springs. Then I took the kick stand off and put it in the shop vice and used a 3' piece of pipe to bend the kick stand a few degrees ( I heated it with a torch first) It doesn't take too much. If you use heat, you won't weaken it.
You could also just cut a little off the bottom and weld a new pad back on. Either way works.

 

Bend away on the side stand, but I'd suggest cutting, and welding on the center stand. I removed mine all together(did not use it), because I vaguely remember that bending it would have caused it to not fold back completely??

 

You can't bend the side stand while it's ON the bike. That will screw up the mounting tabs. You have to remove it from the bike and brace it some how so you can bend it (a vice works) If you bend it towards the bottom, it folds up just fine.

 

I seem to recall that the shocks from a Suzuki Savage come in at around 10.5-11" and would probably be a pretty easy swap. I was watching out for some of those but got impatient and grabbed up the Konis.

So if you see someone parting a Savage, look into it!

Now I think about it, the small Viragos might have shorter rears too. Anyone know?

 

I hope you don"t think I would attempt to bend anything while it's on the bike, all I was saying is be carefull of where you bend the legs to. If you can bend them down with no reprocussions, that's cool!

 

Don't think I was directing that statement at you Worm, so don't take it personally. I was just generalizing to everyone.

 

No offence taken!!

I've got a center stand If anyone needs one.